Dallas ICE office shooting: What was the anti-ICE message engraved on bullet?
Image Credit: FBI Director Kash/X
A deadly shooting unfolded early Wednesday morning at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in Dallas, Texas, leaving two detainees dead and another critically injured. Authorities say the gunman, identified as 29-year-old Joshua Jahn, opened fire from the rooftop of a nearby building before taking his own life with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Officials confirmed the attacker fired indiscriminately at the ICE field office and an unmarked government van. Law enforcement officers on-site were not injured.
What has drawn national attention, however, is the chilling discovery of unused ammunition at the scene—one of the casings bore the phrase “ANTI-ICE.” According to FBI Director Kash Patel, this points to a clear ideological motive, with investigators now treating the incident as a politically charged act of targeted violence.
“This was not random,” Patel stated, warning that attacks rooted in anti-ICE rhetoric have been increasing. “The evidence shows a deliberate attempt to strike at ICE.”
This morning just before 7am local time, an individual fired multiple rounds at a Dallas, Texas ICE facility, killing one, wounding several others, before taking his own life. FBI, DHS, ATF are on the ground with Dallas PD and state authorities.
While the investigation is… pic.twitter.com/SMOyxiKLqA
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) September 24, 2025
His full statement reads:
This morning just before 7am local time, an individual fired multiple rounds at a Dallas, Texas ICE facility, killing one, wounding several others, before taking his own life. FBI, DHS, ATF are on the ground with Dallas PD and state authorities. While the investigation is ongoing, an initial review of the evidence shows an idealogical motive behind this attack (see photo below). One of the unspent shell casings recovered was engraved with the phrase “ANTI ICE.” More updates will be forthcoming. These despicable, politically motivated attacks against law enforcement are not a one-off. We are only miles from Prarieland, Texas where just two months ago an individual ambushed a separate ICE facility targeting their officers. It has to end and the FBI and our partners will lead these investigative efforts to see to it that those who target our law enforcement are pursued and brought to the fullest extent of justice. Thankfully, no law enforcement personnel were injured. Please pray for the injured and deceased.
A Pattern of Violence Targeting ICE
Wednesday’s attack marks the latest in a string of incidents directed at ICE facilities across Texas. Over the summer, ICE offices in San Antonio and Alvarado were shot at, while protests in Dallas escalated into threats and arrests. In one July attack, an Alvarado police officer was shot in the neck outside a detention facility.
In August, another Dallas incident saw a man arrested after arriving at an ICE building with what he claimed was a bomb in his backpack.
The Dallas ICE field office—primarily used for processing detainees—has become a recurring flashpoint in this wave of hostility.
The Anti-ICE Rhetoric Debate
The “Anti-ICE” message carved onto a bullet casing has sparked fierce debate over the escalating demonization of the agency. Critics of ICE often compare the agency to the Gestapo or slave patrols, framing its deportation operations as oppressive. But officials warn that this rhetoric is fueling violence.
“This is the second time I’ve had to brief the media about a shooter at one of my facilities,” said Joshua Johnson, acting director of ICE’s Dallas Enforcement and Removal Operations. “The takeaway is simple: the rhetoric has to stop. People are dying.”
Republican leaders echoed this sentiment. Texas Governor Greg Abbott vowed the shooting would not slow down immigration enforcement. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem blamed the far-left for “dangerous comparisons” that, she said, inspire attacks. Meanwhile, Senator Ted Cruz cautioned against framing political opponents as “Nazis,” emphasizing that such language carries real-world consequences.
The Growing Divide
While the FBI has not released a final report, early evidence strongly suggests Jahn was motivated by animosity toward ICE. Federal agents are now combing through his digital footprint for links to extremist groups or online networks that promote anti-ICE ideology.
For immigration officers and detainees alike, the attack underscores the dangerous intersection of policy debates, political rhetoric, and violence. As the U.S. government continues to push mass deportations under President Trump’s renewed immigration agenda, ICE facilities have increasingly become battlegrounds—not only for protests but for deadly assaults.
FAQ Section
Q1: What happened at the ICE office in Dallas?
Two detainees were killed and another critically injured after a rooftop gunman opened fire on the Dallas ICE field office. The suspect later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Q2: Why is the Dallas ICE shooting being linked to “Anti-ICE” ideology?
Investigators found unused ammunition at the scene engraved with the words “ANTI-ICE,” suggesting the attack was ideologically motivated and targeted at immigration enforcement.
Q3: Was this the first attack on an ICE facility in Texas?
No. In recent months, ICE offices in San Antonio, Alvarado, and Dallas have faced violent incidents ranging from shootings to bomb threats, often tied to anti-ICE sentiment.
Q4: Were any ICE officers harmed in the Dallas shooting?
No law enforcement officers were injured. The victims were detainees being processed at the ICE facility.
Q5: Why is ICE facing hostility?
ICE has become a flashpoint in U.S. immigration debates, with critics likening it to oppressive historical institutions. Officials argue this rhetoric fuels violence against the agency.
